2023 Ford Maverick vs 2023 Nissan Frontier

The 2023 Ford Maverick retained the same aesthetic it introduced as a new model the previous year. It showed a strong family resemblance to other Ford trucks, especially in its side and rear styling, while distinguishing itself with a blocky front end and unique headlights. The Maverick Tremor variant stood out for its off-road capability and street style, including blacked-out logos, headlights, and taillights. It also offered the Avalanche Gray color, which was lighter and less blue than other contemporary shades. The Tremor package also featured Tremor Orange tow hooks, updated fender vents, and a new grille. With an optional $1,495 Tremor Appearance Package, owners could get a Carbonized Gray roof and mirrors, and black side graphics on the hood and lower body, complemented by dark gray 17-inch wheels with an orange accent.

On the other hand, the standard Ford Maverick XL came with 17-inch Sparkle Silver-painted steel wheels. The XLT trim upgraded to 17-inch Carbonized Gray aluminum wheels, while the Lariat trim got 18-inch Bright aluminum wheels. Adding the FX4 package to the XLT or Lariat trim swapped those for 17-inch Ebony-painted aluminum wheels.

Inside, the Maverick’s crew cab featured a lot of cold, hard plastic. Soft-touch materials covered the steering wheel in some configurations. The Black Onyx seats had a heathered look, although their appeal might wane over time. The blue-tinted plastic on the door cards and center console contributed to a surprisingly highbrow appearance that contrasted with the actual feel of the materials.

The 2023 Nissan Frontier, offered in four trims—S, SV, Pro-X, and Pro-4X—showed little change from its 2022 redesign, which had been well-received. For 2023, the Midnight Edition for the SV trim introduced blacked-out elements on the grille, wheels, mirrors, badging, and interior accents. The Pro-X and Pro-4X variants featured Lava Red interior accents, visible in the stitching and various other elements.

Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were available on the Pro-X and Pro-4X trims, along with a six-way power adjustable driver’s seat and a four-way manually adjustable passenger’s seat. The rear bench seat folded in a 60/40-split for added flexibility. The Frontier came in nine exterior colors, including “Baja Storm” tan, Tactical Green, Blue Pearl, and various shades of red and grayscale.

The 2023 Ford Maverick stood out for its standard hybrid powertrain, which had made headlines as the first standard full-hybrid pickup truck upon its 2022 debut. The hybrid combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to produce 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. It came with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD). For those preferring more power and the option for all-wheel drive (AWD), the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine delivered 250 horsepower and worked with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The new Tremor off-road package, available for XLT and Lariat trims, added Ford’s Advanced 4WD system, capable of directing torque to the rear wheels as needed, enhancing off-road adaptability. The Tremor also introduced Trail Control, front and rear springs and shocks, steel skid plates, a heavy-duty transmission cooler, and a 1-inch lift for increased ground clearance and approach/departure angles. The standard towing capacity was up to 4,000 lbs with the 4K Tow Package but dropped to 2,000 lbs with the Tremor package.

Conversely, the 2023 Nissan Frontier, showcasing a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, stood as a solid performer. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) was standard, with an optional shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive (4WD). The 4WD could be engaged in 4HI at speeds under 70 mph, but shifting into 4LO required the vehicle to stop. The Pro-X model, although similar to the Pro-4X in terms of shocks and styling, was not available in 4WD.

Standard hill-start assist and hill-descent control on 4WD models added off-road ease, while the Pro-4X trim aimed for a balance between off-road capability and on-road comfort. To that end, the suspension offered progressive compression for a smoother ride, and a new urethane jounce bumper softened impacts. Further, Nissan managed to reduce noise levels significantly using 41 new parts.

The Frontier's towing capacity reached up to 6,720 pounds, with a maximum payload of 1,610 pounds, and had an EPA-rated fuel economy of up to 20 mpg combined for RWD and slightly less for 4WD.

The 2023 Ford Maverick, when equipped with the Tremor package, grew an inch in overall length but retained the same interior dimensions. Gas-powered models offered 42.8 inches of front legroom and 36.9 inches in the rear, while hybrid models slightly reduced rear legroom to 35.9 inches. It compared favorably in front legroom against the Hyundai Santa Cruz but fell short in the rear. Headroom was nearly identical between the two vehicles.

Despite the pervasive plastic inside, the Maverick could be upgraded for increased comfort. Adding the Luxury Package for $1,730 brought heated front seats, steering wheel, and mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. The Lariat trim’s Luxury Package at $2,610 included additional tech and safety features.

The 2023 Nissan Frontier featured two cab configurations: the larger Crew Cab with four full-size doors and a default 5-foot bed, and the King Cab with two full-size and two rear access doors. The Crew Cab SV could add a 6-foot bed, which was standard for the King Cab.

Nissan increased the volume of the Frontier's cargo bed, with the 5-foot bed now accommodating 40.1 cubic feet and the 6-foot bed holding 46.4 cubic feet. The hydraulically assisted tailgate, along with other Skid plates on the Pro-4X trim enhanced the vehicle's off-road practicality. The interior also boasted ample storage, nearly double the closest competition in the center console.

Tech-wise, the Maverick catered to its entry-level base. It had an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with basic yet functional graphics, standard Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. FordPass Connect provided a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. It also included two front USB ports as standard, with the Lariat trim adding two more for the rear. The Lariat’s Luxury Package enhanced the system with Sync 3, B&O sound, and SiriusXM radio.

The 2023 Nissan Frontier made a definite upgrade in tech, particularly in its Pro-X and Pro-4X trims, which offered wireless Apple CarPlay. Android Auto still required a wired connection. The Pro trims featured two USB-A and USB-C ports each, a wireless charging pad, and a 9-inch touchscreen, touted as the largest in the class. Optional upgrades included a 10-speaker Fender premium sound system, which impressed with its bass quality. The 7-inch digital gauge cluster provided real-time vehicle angles for off-roading.

Ford included its Co-Pilot 360 suite for the Maverick, encompassing automatic high beams, pre-collision assist, automatic emergency braking, and a rearview camera. Further available options included adaptive cruise control, lane centering, evasive steering assist, lane-departure and lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and hill-descent control. The Maverick earned a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and various ratings from the IIHS for crash prevention.

Nissan’s Frontier came standard with forward-collision warning, trailer sway control, a driver-attention monitor, automatic emergency braking, and rear-door alert. Higher trims offered additional features like lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control, with Traffic-sign recognition and intelligent cruise control in the Pro-4X. The NHTSA gave the Frontier a four-star overall rating, and it had favorable scores in crash prevention tests from the IIHS.